Marin Readers' Forum for Oct. 20

In response to the many articles regarding the formation of the new Novato charter school, I applaud the efforts of the parents to derive a better education for their children.

I want the same for mine.

However, it appears the new charter school resembles the format of Rancho School, with its core curriculum focus.

Many questions arise:

 Since the board disbanded the former non-neighborhood school because it didn't represent diversity, among other reasons, why would the board approve this one?

 If parents want voice and choice, why aren't they more active in their school PTAs?

At a recent Sinaloa PTSA campus-wide meeting, maybe four parents attended out of a student body approaching 850.

 Seems a disproportionate amount of the superintendent's time is being spent in town hall meetings concerning the brightest and the gifted. Shouldn't all levels of learners be represented equally?

 What if all the energy, time and resources involved with the charter formation were instead channeled to re-inventing existing schools?

Instead of a new school (let's not forget we just closed one not too long ago) let me propose parents get more involved through their PTAs, and we improve the process by which parents, school staff and the district collaborate to fix what's perceived to be broken to the benefit of all children.

Cynthia Seymour, Novato

MILL VALLEY

Grateful residents

Very early on the morning of Oct. 29, an officer from the Mill Valley Police Department, Scott Brooks, began knocking on the lower doors of our home, ascending the 67 steps to our front door. He knocked loudly, flashed his light in our windows and yelled, "Police".

We scrambled (perhaps staggered) out of bed, opened the door and Scott told us we needed to leave our home as the house directly above us (on Bolsa Avenue) was on fire.

We looked up, to see the sky ablaze with fire, as the officer left to alert our other neighbors.

Because of Scott, we were able to gather a few belongings, our dog and move down to the street and safety.

We watched as many firefighters (eight engines) worked to eventually contain this fire on an extremely steep parcel, filled with trees and dry vegetation.

Clearly it was a dangerous fire, and we felt resigned that we my soon be watching our home, too, burn.

We are unsure if we said anything coherent to Scott, let alone "thank you," but we are extremely grateful for his efforts to awaken us.

It took courage to run up dark, uneven steps and bang on someone's door in the dead of night.

Other police officers working the fire scene that evening were: Sgt. Jacob Cuadrez, Cpl. Ryan Smith, and Officer Josh Longoria; who may or may not have been thanked for their efforts, but we think we speak for many others when we express our appreciation of their efforts.

Additionally, as we watched the firefighters work so extraordinarily hard to suppress this fire, it was impossible not to be filled with gratitude for their professionalism, dedication and expertise: One house lost, no lives.

At a time when many call for less government and taxes, this was a reminder that although government is a myriad of things, it is also Officer Scott Brooks and fellow officers who looked out for us on that morning and it is the firefighters who put their lives in danger to protect us.

Thank you.

Beth and Robert Taska, MILL VALLEY

Assembly

'Old-time politician'

Interesting that the IJ would recommend Michael Allen for 10th District Assemblyman.

This is an old-time politician who is slick with the ol' boy tactics.

As a Santa Rosa planning commissioner he voted for development rights for water agency property, conveniently forgetting that this same agency had paid him to work for that change.

How can that be even possible? And for this transgression he got a slap on the hand?

His excuse that his vote didn't change the outcome is laughable. We have seen enough of the likes of Mr. Allen.

I'm voting for Marc Levine.

Linda Riedel, Novato

MEASURE A

'Blatant tax grab'

Thirty years ago, a senior member of the Marin County Open Space District told me that their job was a "dead end" career wise. The reason for this was that all the money we taxpayers give to the district would be used up by salaries and pensions. There would be no funds left to buy new open space.

While a simplification, this prophecy has come true. Despite a rosy Marin Voice column by the department's chief, district rangers do not fix gates or remove non-native vegetation. The few that can be spared from their desks, enforce rules, i.e. dog walkers, mountain bikes, etc.

The new tax the county is asking for in Measure A will not be used for anything noteworthy, just more "enforcement and education."

If the district actually had some leadership or creative thinking, it would buy the Gallagher Ranch and complete the "Rails to Trails" component of the Cross-Marin Trail, from Lagunitas to Point Reyes Station.

Please join me as we send a message to the underworked, overpaid bureaucrats who strangle us with red tape. Vote "no" on Measure A, as the protection and preservation of Marin open space is already assured.

This is a blatant tax grab, sweetened by givebacks to the locals and featherbedding staff.

Jeff Girtler, Tiburon

SAUSALITO

Civility should count

The largest potential housing site in Sausalito is a two-acre lot on Butte Street. In 1995 some owners gifted Sausalito a half- interest. A half-interest remains privately owned.

After one year of negotiations, Rotary signed a contingent contract for the private interest. Rotary built two senior housing projects — all without financial gain by any Rotarian.

Rotary approached the city staff, which stressed that a laborious public process would be required before the city would consider any transfer, as reflected in a draft "Exclusive Negotiating Agreement" ("ENA"). Rotary approached every council member a month in advance. Everyone expressed appreciation to Rotary for its efforts, except Linda Pfeifer, who responded with false accusations and adamant opposition.

City staff mistakenly put the agreement on the City Council's consent calendar, which is for agenda items where no public comment is anticipated.

Anyone has the right to remove an item from the consent calendar.

Ms. Pfeifer made great issue of this mistake and falsely alleged secret meetings and agreements between Rotary and city representatives.

There has been a recurring pattern of Ms. Pfeifer alleging moral turpitude against opponents, rather than focusing on the merits, as demonstrated in her vehement opposition to the recent fire consolidation.

Stunned by a flood of angry, false accusations, the council declined to discuss the agreement. Rotary is no longer in contract to purchase the private interest.

Sausalito would be better served by electing new council members who listen with open minds and conduct themselves with honesty, transparency and civility.

Ron Albert, former Sausalito Mayor

CONGRESS

Time for change

Don't write off congressional candidate Dan Roberts yet. There are a lot of voters who are not thrilled right now by the thought of paying more taxes to pay for more "infrastructure" and more subsidized social engineering.

The differences in philosophy between Roberts and Assemblyman Jared Huffman seem clear and we know that real jobs are created by Mr. Robert's proven approach — leave money in people's pockets so they have something to spend, which creates demand, which creates jobs, which creates more spending and so on.

And stop demonizing corporations while requiring them to act as tax collectors so politicians can posture as good guys. Corporate taxes are really an indirect tax on all of us. High corporate taxes are also a factor that leads to outsourcing jobs and manufacturing in order to be competitive and protect the value of stocks, which, incidentally, are held by unions, colleges, governments and individuals in retirement accounts.

As to science, were we not being warned in the 1970s about another ice age? The whole thing seems more like an exercise in political science and scare journalism than physical science.

You might read "Unstoppable Global Warming, Every 1,500 Years" by S. Fred Singer and Dermist Avery for another perspective on "global warming."

T.J. Nelson, Waldo Point

LARKSPUR

Ferry parking mess

Recently, I had arranged to meet an old friend in San Francisco and planned to ride the Larkspur ferry to the city. When I arrived at the terminal, I found that the parking lot and the overflow lot were full.

Of course, the day I picked had two ferries departing within 10 minutes of each other — one for the Giants game and one for regular customers. No wonder there was no parking available.

Marin Country Mart had posted signs at entries near the walkway to the terminal state that parking there was for customers only.

Having heard a rider complain he had to walk from San Quentin after parking his car there, I realized I had no choice but to park in the Mart, as I was still recovering from a cracked kneecap and there was no way I could walk that distance.

As I passed over the footbridge to the terminal, I noticed a young woman observing the shopping center's lot. At that point I knew I was in trouble.

Sure enough, upon my return, slapped on my windshield was a notice from the shopping center declaring I was being warned that I had illegally parked there and it was now part of the center's permanent records.

If it happens again, I might be towed.

Adequate planning is everything — especially under these circumstances. It's obvious that there was not enough cooperation among the available parking facilities on this particular day.

I hope the city of Larkspur, the Golden Gate ferry and the shopping center can do a better job in the future.